The Official Batman Returns Thread - Part 2

[shauner111]

the chemistry between Pfeiffer and Keaton was just electric. The exchange of haunted glances…it’s like they’re from the silent era.

What a strange film Returns really is. It‘s dark and mean-spirited, yet at the same time ridiculously campy and operatic. And it’s filled with real depth of character that goes way beyond the loud costumes. It’s certainly one of a kind.

There was chemistry but i find people overrate it. It wasn't "electric". It was solid but i wouldnt call their scenes electrifying. And i have always found the Selina/Bruce or Cat/Bat scenes to be the very best scenes from the movie.

Ill disagree about real depth of character as i find the film to not really be about anything at all. Things just happen. There's no antagonist or plot. Bruce/Batman is playing a guest role, like a fourth wheel. Not much depth there. Not much depth in Penguin either since they sucked it all out from how he is in the comics. Loved the freaky version of him as a kid but the actual Oswald of the comics is one of my favorite characters of all time. Burton ignored all his potential.

But ill agree with the last thing you said. Batman Returns is truly one of a kind. Bravo for Burton for creating his own Batman movie. It took balls. For better or worse it will always be remembered. The score and nightmarish/fairytale winter look will be in my mind forever. Just like Edward Scissorhands.

It might actually be the movie that made me a Batman fan in the first place. Even over the first film.

 

[BatLobster]

I can actually say for certain that Batman Returns is what made me a fan. I was 5 when it came out, and it was the first Batman movie that I saw in theaters. I had the action figures, McDonalds toys, cups, Returns bed sheets, two Returns posters on my wall, and the GameGear and SNES versions of the video game. Shoot, I even had a Batman Returns deck of cards and Batman Returns BOARD GAME. It was the thing that really submersed me into the world of Batman. It gave me a reason to want to tune in for TAS the very night it premiered. But I was definitely very specifically obsessed with the movie from a merchandising standpoint. Moreso than I was with Forever actually, which is kind of funny when I think about it.

These days I can pick it apart with the best of them, but I will always have a soft spot for it because of all that. Despite the movie's macabre weirdness, I do think Burton created a visceral experience there that registered as "Batman" to me as a kid. Gotham was a scary, unsettling place. I instantly understood the need for someone as extreme as Batman to stand up to the freaks in Gotham.

 

[Mister Meddle]

Batman Returns and the Animated Series are both responsible for turning me into a gigantic Batman fanboy. I am 24 (going to turn 25 the upcoming Saturday). The very first Batman merchandise I received was a Batman Returns tent that was given to me by my grandmother for Christmas 1992 when I was 4.

I clearly remember when I first saw Batman Returns. It was either in late 1992 or early 1993 at a childhood friend's house. At the age of 4, the thing that really grabbed my attention was the visuals. I remember falling in love with (and hating) the look of Gotham City. In the mid 90's my dad owned an apartment building in the older side of Chicago. When I say "the older side", I mean the south side where majority of the buildings and homes were built in the early/mid 20th century. This was before it became a gang haven for the Kings. I remember HATING to go with my dad to that area because of how hideous the area looked at the time. It pretty much looked like Gotham in Batman Returns.

 

[regwec]

Pfeiffer gave one of the great female performances of the '90s - up there with Emmanuelle Beart (Un Couer en Hiver), Juliette Binoche (Blue) and Emily Watson (Breaking the Waves). So damaged and fragile, yet charismatic, playful and kind of heroic in her own twisted way. There was so much going on, so many layers to her performance. But most of all, she was fun to watch. She was extraordinary. And the chemistry between Pfeiffer and Keaton was just electric. The exchange of haunted glances…it’s like they’re from the silent era.

What a strange film Returns really is. It‘s dark and mean-spirited, yet at the same time ridiculously campy and operatic. And it’s filled with real depth of character that goes way beyond the loud costumes. It’s certainly one of a kind.

 

[the fixer]

back of teh batmobile

I really don't think that's the back of the batmobile, man...

To me it looks pretty much exactly like this:

Dang it, I wish I had a Batman Returns screenshot in a better resolution... Any of you have a Blu-Ray screenshot?

 

[relentless1]

i totally had the same experience with batman, it was batman returns that got me into batman, i had seen the super friends and all that but returns is when i fell in love with the character and I've never looked back. I remember my dad took me to see it when it was still in the theatre, i was instantly hooked, then my friends and i followed the animated series religiously, my 7th birthday in november of 1992 and christmas that year i got all batman returns toys, my first batman toy was arctic batman, i had the wayne manor playlet and everything lol....love those memories.

 

[Homer J. Fong]

The A.V. Club posted a pretty great piece on Batman Returns as seen as a Christmas movie today, and I thought I'd post that here: http://www.avclub.com/article/batman-returns-digs-into-seasonal-depression-106172

 

[Ponyboy]

I just popped in the blu-ray specifically to figure out what the hell that is. I must've rewound it 5 times. I've still no clue. I thought maybe it was the rear of the Batmobile as someone else suggested, but I can't seem to make out any other part of the Batmobile. Very weird. One of Batman's oddball crimefighting tools, perhaps?

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

Is it some kind of phonograph and the light is just bouncing off it?

God... that Bat-suit looks amazing.

 

[the fixer]

Is it some kind of phonograph and the light is just bouncing off it?

God... that Bat-suit looks amazing.

Hehe, good one...
I don't think so though...

And I'm sure it's not part of the Batmobile either...

You guys must admit that it looks an awful lot like a T-Rex' eye... I mean, Batman does have a T-Rex replica in the Batcave... It's not that far-fetched.
Couldn't it be that the art department snuck in this T-rex easter egg and no one noticed it? (UNTIL NOW!)

Does anyone of you guys know anyone who knows someone who worked on the sets of Batman Returns so we can check?

 

[Kane52630]

http://kane52630.tumblr.com/post/69663978634/batman-returns

 

[Kane52630]

http://kane52630.tumblr.com/post/69664463082/gif-collage-batman-returns


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Spoiler

 

[The Joker]

I love that close up shot of him driving away in the Batmobile after he's been watching Penguin.

 

[DCW]

^ Agreed. One of my absolute favorite scenes.

And holy crap. Right column, second gif down: that IS Batman.

 

[titansupes]

^ I can't stop staring at the one under that one, personally (Batman opening the door to the Ice Princess).

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

That's one thing that I can say no other batman actor got right was his movements and mannerisms, Keaton just had that natural walk.

 

[shauner111]

I actually never cared for his walk. But i loved his eye movements. That scene where he drives off in the snow, in the batmobile after spying on Oswald. Awesome stuff. Pure Batman. But sometimes i felt like his walk was Keaton trying to have too much swagger or trying to be cool lol.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

I always felt that Keaton let the suit do the talking. Other actors at times forced the Batman persona, whereas he just had it naturally.

His walk, his confident/nonchalant attitude, his eyes and even the infamous ''Bat-turn'' give his Batman a uniqueness that others lacked.

 

[ThePhantasm]

Most gorgeous batsuit ever.

 

[shauner111]

I always felt that Keaton let the suit do the talking. Other actors at times forced the Batman persona, whereas he just had it naturally.

His walk, his confident/nonchalant attitude, his eyes and even the infamous ''Bat-turn'' give his Batman a uniqueness that others lacked.

That's not really Keaton's doing, it's the script and Burton's direction. If the script called for dialogue then we would be having a different conversation these days about Keaton not always being so quiet and letting the suit do the talking.

The bat-turn is also just the reality of the cowl/neck and how the actor is forced to turn that way. Bale did the same bat-turn in his Begins suit. It's not like they had a choice.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

That's not really Keaton's doing, it's the script and Burton's direction. If the script called for dialogue then we would be having a different conversation these days about Keaton not always being so quiet and letting the suit do the talking.

The bat-turn is also just the reality of the cowl/neck and how the actor is forced to turn that way. Bale did the same bat-turn in his Begins suit. It's not like they had a choice.

It's been noted that Keaton removed some of Batman's dialogue himself, so he clearly did have a handle on the characters attitude and the persona he wanted to project.

I don't know... with Kilmer and even Bale, the Bat-Turn always felt more clumsy, but with Keaton it kind of worked. I know you won't agree with that but it's how I feel.

 

[shauner111]

Oh ok, i actually didnt know that about Keaton. Thanks.

It's hard for me to even remember Kilmers turning, but i dont remember Bale's turn being clumsy. It was just as effective as Keaton's imo.

 

[ThePhantasm]

No one turns without moving their neck like Keaton. NO ONE!!

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

Well... Clooney turns AND bobbles his head at the same time.

So I think we have our winner.

 

[regwec]

Keaton's Bat-turn was awesome partly as a result of the "leather" cape he wore: it whipped up and around him dynamically. Poor old Bale's shower curtain was just there.